AN OPEN LETTER TO UNHR COMMISSIONER!!!

January 25, 2009

Hon. Navanetham Pillay
UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
52 rue des Pâquis
CH-1211 Geneva 10
Switzerland

Dear UNHR Commissioner Pillay

I am writing to you to make an urgent appeal to act immediately on the escalating humanitarian crisis faced by the Tamils in Sri Lanka. Today, a silent tragedy unfolds in Sri Lanka as the plights of Tamil civilians are disregarded by the International Community.

The Genocide Prevention Project, a New York based initiative listed Sri Lanka as one of the top eight "red alert" countries, where genocide is either already taking place or underway. The Government of Sri Lanka has implemented a genocidal strategy by placing an embargo on food, medicine, and other essentials. They have expelled various non-governmental organizations which were active in providing aid. The Government of Sri Lanka continued to escalate human suffering by carrying out intense aerial bombardments using cluster bombs. The government is also responsible for a media black out in Sri Lanka by preventing international media from reporting the genocidal atrocities on the ground.

Peter Campbell of the World Food Programme, commented how the conditions in northern Sri Lanka is similar to conditions observed in Somalia. Over half-a-million Tamils are displaced and the Government of Sri Lanka has carried out intense aerial bombardments on IDP settlements, hospitals, schools and churches. The International Committee of the Red Cross has expressed that they are extremely concerned about the civilians that are fleeing from the aggression by the military.

The Government of Sri Lanka is guilty of serious violations of international law and the Geneva conventions. At this time the Tamils in Sri Lanka are in dire need of international intervention.

It is my fervent hope that you will act immediately on these immense concerns of the genocidal atrocities that are being inflicted by the Government of Sri Lanka on the Tamils.

I urge the Office of the High Commissioner of Human Rights to act immediately to:

* Stop the indiscriminate aerial bombings and artillery shellings carried out by the Government of Sri Lanka on Tamil civilians;

* Allow international and local NGOs to the war affected areas to provide emergency assistance to internally displaced Tamils;

* Allow international media and monitoring missions to report freely about the humanitarian crisis in the conflict zones;

* Adopt a United Nations Human Rights Council Emergency Resolution calling for an end to the massive human rights violations against Tamils.

Sincerely,
Shan Nalliah, http://worldtamilrefugeesforum.blogspot.com
Gandhiyist/ Norway